Victorious European Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal has returned to competition for this week’s Portugal Masters and singling out the two final matches on Saturday as his lasting Medinah Memory.

Europe were trailing by six points before Sergio Garcia teamed to beat Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker 1up before Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy got Europe to within four points when Poulter birdied the closig five holes in a 1up victory over USA rivals Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.

“I recall lot of moments, but there is one that stands out and that is the Saturday afternoon matches,” said Olazabal.

“Those were crucial.  I said it all along.  Sergio and Luke and Poulter, and Rory winning those two points, and the way everything unfold, I think that was the key to the whole come back on Sunday.

Jose Maria Olazabal returns to competition still on a high after the ‘Miracle at Medinah’. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

“If I have to just choose one moment at that Ryder Cup or the most important moment from my point of view, that will be it.

“It changed the whole spirit within the team.”

And Olazabal, who had played in seven Ryder Cup including the winning 1987, 1997, and 2006 teams, stated he will never get tired of talking about his greatest-ever Ryder Cup moment.

“I hope I can talk about winning the Ryder Cup forever,” he said smiling widely.

“As much as I can, you know, I would love ‑‑ I’ve seen players like Bernhard or some other players, you know, playing well, getting close to their 50s and past their 50s.  I would love to do that to be honest, but I know it’s tough these days.  The level is very high.  And, well, it will depend on how good I play.  But roughly that’s what I’m looking at.

“Pretty much everyone says that to see it on TV, it was very emotional and thrilling.

“They say that they have not seen any other event like that one on TV, for whatever reason.  I mean, but that’s pretty much the feedback that I get from ‑‑ even from players that obviously they have competed, they have watched major events on TV, for whatever reason, this one, it was special in that regard.

“Everyone says that they were glued to the TV.  You know, and it was kind of nerve‑wracking even for them.”

And Olazabal will get to rekindle those memories as he will play the opening two rounds on the Ocenico Vilamours course in the company of winning team members Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari.